Tennessee Exclusive State Benefits
Factoid: Tennessee is home to more than 450,000 veterans and several major military facilities, including Arnold Air Force Base and Naval Support Activity Mid South. The state offers extensive property tax relief, education benefits for veterans and dependents, and significant discounts on outdoor recreation.
Key Contact:
Tennessee Department of Veterans Services (TDVS)
📍 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 15th Floor, Nashville, TN 37243
🌐 https://www.tn.gov/veteran.html | 📞 (615) 741 2345 | 📧 vog.nt%40naretev.nt
⚕️ State Veterans Homes
🟩 Four Tennessee State Veterans Homes (Humboldt, Knoxville, Murfreesboro, Clarksville) provide skilled nursing care, memory care, and rehabilitation for eligible veterans and spouses.
📍 Find locations & contacts: https://www.tsvh.org | 📞 (615) 225 1800 | 📧 gro.hvst%40ofni
🚗 Driver License & ID Benefits
🟩 Free “Veteran” designation on driver’s licenses and ID cards for honorably discharged veterans.
🟩 Specialty license plates for veterans, disabled veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and other awardees (some issued at no fee).
📍 Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security
🌐 https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/veterans.html | 📞 (866) 849 3548
🏠 Property Tax Relief
🟩 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans may qualify for property tax relief on their primary residence, reducing taxable value by up to $175,000.
🟩 Surviving spouses may retain this benefit.
📍 Contact your local county trustee’s office for applications.
🌐 https://www.comptroller.tn.gov/office-functions/pa/property-taxes/property-tax-relief.html | 📞 (615) 747 8829 | 📧 vog.nt.toc%40feileR.xaT.eRTP
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💵 Income Tax Benefits
🟩 Tennessee has no state income tax — military retirement pay, VA disability benefits, and survivor benefits are fully tax free.
🎓 Education Benefits
🟩 Tennessee STRONG Act provides tuition reimbursement for Tennessee National Guard members at state public institutions.
🌐 https://www.tn.gov/military/programs-benefits/education-incentives/strong-act.html | 📞 (615) 313 0633
🟩 Dependent Children’s Scholarship Program offers free tuition and fees at state institutions for children of veterans killed or disabled in service.
🌐 https://www.tn.gov/veteran/education/education-benefits.html | 📞 (615) 741 2345
🟩 In state tuition for veterans and dependents regardless of residency duration.
📍 Tennessee Higher Education Commission
🌐 https://www.tn.gov/thec | 📞 (615) 741 3605 | 📧 vog.nt%40ofni.ceht
💼 Employment Services
🟩 Veterans receive preference in state hiring.
🟩 Tennessee Career Centers offer Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists for job assistance.
🌐 https://www.tn.gov/workforce | 📞 (844) 224 5818 | 📧 vog.nt%40ofni.ecrofkrow
🌳 Recreation & Licenses
🟩 Free hunting and fishing licenses for 100% disabled veterans and former POWs.
🟩 Discounted licenses for other eligible veterans.
📍 Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
🌐 https://www.tn.gov/twra/licenses/military.html | 📞 (615) 781 6500 | 📧 vog.nt%40arwt.ksa
🟩 50% discount on camping and lodging at Tennessee State Parks for 100% disabled veterans.
📍 Tennessee State Parks
🌐 https://tnstateparks.com | 📞 (888) 867 2757 | 📧 vog.nt%40skrapetatsnt.ksa
⚖️ Legal Assistance
🟩 Free legal aid for low income veterans through Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, and West Tennessee Legal Services.
🌐 https://las.org | 📞 (800) 238 1443 | 📧 gro.sal%40ofni
🌐 https://wtls.org | 📞 (800) 372 8346 | 📧 gro.sltw%40ofni
🟩 Veterans Treatment Courts operate in multiple Tennessee counties for justice involved veterans.
📍 Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts
🌐 https://www.tncourts.gov | 📞 (615) 741 2687 | 📧 vog.struocnt%40snoitacinummoc.coa
⚰️ State Veterans Cemeteries
🟩 Three Tennessee State Veterans Cemeteries (Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville) offer free burial for eligible veterans and nominal cost burial for spouses and dependents.
📍 Contact Tennessee Department of Veterans Services
🌐 https://www.tn.gov/veteran/burial-and-memorial.html | 📞 (615) 532 8030 | 📧 vog.nt%40naretev.nt
💡 Additional Tennessee Specific Programs
🟩 Tennessee Veterans Business Outreach Center offers free business counseling, training, and resource connections for veteran entrepreneurs.
🌐 https://www.vboc.org | 📞 (615) 366 7045 | 📧 ude.ustm%40cobv
🟩 Operation Stand Down Tennessee provides transitional housing, career services, and emergency assistance to veterans.
🌐 https://osdtn.org | 📞 (615) 248 1981 | 📧 gro.ntdso%40ofni
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Disclaimer:
This is NOT an official handout from DoD, VA, DOL nor FFSC but created by Dr. Tony Astro, PhD, GCDF, CMCS, CCSP as part of his class & capstone counseling. To reach out for correction and additional information connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyastro. You can also subscribe to his Military Benefits and Transition page for an update on this at https://www.linkedin.com/company/tonyastro.